Emerald: Omega to Alpha

Chapter 2

As I thought of Cherry, comparing Cherry and myself was like comparing swan and duck. Cherry was so popular as a Beta in her pack. As the cheerleader’s captain in our school, she was also famous among the students, even in other schools. Because of her beauty and popularity, many students wanted to date her.

I stared into the clothes I wore: a standard black T-shirt and blue jeans. Today my brown hair fastener tied my hair. I liked my brown hair. It was pretty long, almost reached to my waist. I always wore flat shoes because it was more practical since I used a school bus to school. Well, the only thing that might be beautiful in me was my eyes. My mother named me Emerald because of my green eyes. My mother said that anyone who looked at me would notice my big and beautiful eyes.

Cherry usually dressed in some expensive dresses that flaunted the beauty of her body. Her style usually matched the color of high heels with her attire. Today Cherry wore a sleeveless knee-length pink dress and 7 cm light pink heels. The dress was so fitting, showing her voluptuous body. Cherry’s hair was a trendy neck-length style. Besides, she always wore complete makeup that showed her full lips. 

We were absolutely the opposite. I was often envious of seeing Cherry, especially since students liked her at school. Cherry’s pack accepted her too, not like mine. The only time I could forget about my tough life was when I danced. Since childhood, I had been studying ballet. I once aspired to be a ballerina. Unfortunately, as I was older, the cost of being a ballerina was too high. It was so hurtful, but I had no choice but to bury my dream.

Upon returning home from school, I did not immediately enter the house. I walked to a plot of vacant land next to my home. I put my bag on a stone chair there, then pulled out my pointe shoes—my ballet shoes. The pointe shoes were my precious items. Immediately I wore them, and then I forgot everything while dancing.

I began tiptoeing, stretching out my arms, spinning, and jumping according to the ballet dance sequences I remembered. I continued to dance until my sweat poured out. After about an hour, I stopped. Oh, how I loved dancing! 

I walked back to the stone chair. After taking off my ballet shoes and putting them in the bag, I sat on that stone chair and stared at random things in front of me. I sighed, then looked down and hugged my bent legs. Without any voice, my tears flowed. I couldn’t hold them any longer. 

I only pretended to be strong at school by ignoring everything that happened so my heart wouldn’t break. Whenever bullying happened because Doug asked his friends to do it, I always felt so angry, disappointed, and frustrated. I wanted to fight back, but what could I do? I didn’t have any strength or anyone to defend myself.

The student had also bullied Jessica, but not as often as they did to me. It’s only once or twice. They hurt me because of Doug, who kept pressing and forcing me to untie the unwanted mate-bond by both of us. I didn’t want the bond, but somehow it was like creating an invisible connection between Doug and me. I could not ignore Doug because of the bond itself. Wasn’t it so annoying? 

After I was too tired and desperate since the conditions pinned me down, I stood up and then stepped towards my house. As I just walked into the house, there was a bell. I peeked through the window to see who was coming. 

Then I was shocked. Two cops came to my house. One was male, and the other was female. As soon as he saw me in the window, the police officer waved. I immediately opened the front door.

I greeted the police officers, “Good afternoon, officers. What can I help you with?”

“Is your mother at home? Is there an adult in the house?” the policewoman asked me.

I shook her head. “My mom works. I live only with her.” For a moment, I remembered something. “My father! Is this related to him?”

The two officers looked at each other. “Can we come in for a second?” 

I was silent, then finally allowed the two cops to enter the living room. I sat down and waited. Silently I prayed that all would be alright.

The policewoman looked at me. “I’m Officer Melanie Wells, and this is Officer Tom McLeland. Is Morgan Davis your father?

I swallowed hard. "Yes."

"We would like to express our condolences about your father.”

I was stunned, then stared at the two cops for a few seconds. “Father…. My father... What's going on with him?” My tears poured out immediately.

“We are so sorry to tell you this, but your father was found dead in Spring Forest. From the wounds on his body, it looks like a beast attacked your father.” Officer Wells issued her card. “Could you please give it to your mother? If your mother wants to ask me more questions, she can call me at this number.”

I was still crying. Officer Wells put her business card on the table. “We are very sorry that we have to deliver this sad news. Is there a family that can accompany you?”

I shook my head. “There’s only my mother. I’ll wait until my mom finishes work to tell her the news.”

“Do you have any friends who can come here to accompany you?”

“Yes, I’ll call her later.” I stood up. “I’m sorry, officer, I want to be alone.”

“We understand. Once again, please accept our deepest condolences. In case we can help more, please contact us.”

“Thank you.” I escorted the two cops out of my house. As soon as they left, I was sobbing. “Dad ...”

I wanted to call my mom, but it was still afternoon. After thinking for a while, I didn’t do it. Telling the bad news just now would surely ruin my mom’s workday. The tightness in the chest was getting bigger until finally, I changed my clothes with ballet rehearsal clothes, then wore my pointe shoes again.

I left the house after locking it up, and then I walked back to the vacant lot. I couldn’t dance at home since my house was so small. That’s why I could only dance in the empty lot next to my house. It was such a huge blessing to have it there. I didn’t know who owned it. So far, I just danced there. If the owner came and claimed the lot one day, it would be the last time I could dance there. Before the day came, I would enjoy the luxury. 

Then I started dancing again. I turned, jumped, then turned again. I lost count of how many times I’d done it. Until finally, I was lying on the ground, too exhausted to move again.

The pain didn’t go away. It just added up—all mixed feelings of loss, confusion, and fear for my future after my father’s death. Later, as if invisible hands were stretching my body, somehow, I shape-shifted into a wolf. My outfit was completely detached. I looked at my feet. The furs of my feet were a mix of gray, white, and black.

I felt so light. I might have been a skinny wolf.  After 17 years, it was my first time turning into a wolf. The transformation process was slow compared to other werewolves. Still, it might make sense considering only my father was a werewolf.

I picked up my scattered shirt with my mouth, then put it on the stone chair. After that, I howled long, unleashed anguish in my heart, then ran into the Spring Forest.

There I smelled my father’s blood, then traced it. After following my father’s blood scent for a while, the smell ended in an empty place. I found another strong scent other than my father’s there, so I memorized it well.

Since I didn’t know who did it, I returned to the vacant lot next to my house. The distance between one place and another in the neighborhood was quite far since it was suburban. So, none looked when I jumped to the stone seat in the empty land. Then I transformed back into a human. I quickly picked up my outfit and put it on. After taking the ballet shoes, I went back into the house, waiting for my mother to come home to tell her the bad news.